People from all over the world work with wood as a hobby: it’s a fun and creative things to do in your spare time and, depending on how deep you want to get into it, it can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.
But getting good with woodturning requires patience and practice as well as the right tools for the job. If you stick with it and learn the necessary fundamental techniques, you can create many wonderful projects, from everyday items like bowls and boxes to large dresser drawers and intricate, artistic pieces. Here are a few tips on becoming a better woodturning hobbyist.
Start With the Basics
The worst thing you can do with any hobby is to try to do too much, too quickly. Working above your knowledge and skill level can take all of the fun out of woodturning because you will grow frustrated that you can’t do many of the things required for advanced projects.
Instead, start off simply. There are a lot of techniques to learn in order to master the craft, so starting at a beginner’s level is the best way to build the proper foundation for later on. Crafting a simple bowl and using small pieces of equipment will allow you to learn at the right pace without outstripping your knowledge and skill.
When you have your woodturning space ready, take your time and learn how to use each piece of equipment properly, until you feel as if using it becomes second nature to you. You will have a lot of missed cuts and a junk pile of ruined wood, but you’ll learn eventually.
Find the Right Tools
There are as many different types and styles of woodturning tools as there are hobbyists. Each type of tool is perfect for a particular job — or, in some cases, many different jobs — so the first thing you need to figure out is what you want to build.
There is a basic set of tools (see it here) that every shop has, but after that, the tools get specialized. You may not need many of the tools that you will find in woodturning magazines or websites that show you how to build different projects, so figure out what you want to get out of your hobby before making a lot of purchases. Buy the essential tools first and then build your collection as you advance and have a need for them for certain projects.
Have Fun
Remember, a hobby should be fun and relaxing, so don’t get frustrated if you don’t pick up on everything right away. Instead, enjoy yourself knowing that if you stick with it, you will soon be able to do all of the things you can imagine doing. Woodturning is a great hobby, but it does require patience and practice, so always try to have a smile on your face when you’re in your shop!
Think about these tips if you want to get into woodturning as a hobby.
